Project

SARAH – uSer-centred civil infrAstructure Reliable Assessment and Healing

The aim of the international SARAH project is to transform the inspection and maintenance processes of civil infrastructure with the help of new technologies. The technological solutions developed in the project can improve the security management of civil infrastructures, such as bridges and tunnels, and the safety of infrastructure inspections and maintenance workers. The role of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health is to ensure that human-centred design is implemented and that human factors are taken into account.

Timetable

6/2025–5/2028

Objectives

Major accidents related to civil infrastructures in recent years, such as the Ponte Morand bridge collapse in Italy in 2018, have raised concerns about infrastructure security in Europe. The ageing of old structures and shortcomings in maintenance increase risks and make the inspection and maintenance of infrastructure more important than ever.

The SARAH project aims to address these challenges by developing innovative, user-oriented technological solutions that support the planning, decision-making and implementation of maintenance and repairs.

The project utilises smart sensors, drones, metaverse and augmented reality technologies to monitor infrastructure condition more accurately, efficiently and proactively. This approach increases the safety of infrastructures and significantly improves the occupational safety of infrastructure inspections and maintenance workers.

Data and methods

In the project, the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health is responsible for integrating the perspective of human-centred design and Human Factors (HF) into the design processes of new technologies. Human Factors refer to factors related to the individual, group, work and the organisational levels that can either improve or weaken safety and health and the smooth running of the work.

The Finnish Institute of Occupational Health will develop the following in the project:

a Human Factor Toolkit (HF Toolkit) that supports the development of a digital solution and ensures that HFs are taken into account in design and planning
an e-learning package (MOOC) that provides end-users with the readiness to identify and manage HFs
virtual reality training (VR training), which complements the MOOC learning package with practical and safe learning experiences.

We will plan and organise group interviews and workshops to model work processes and identify critical points for Human Factors and occupational safety. During the field tests, we will observe and assess the impact of the SARAH solution on the efficiency and safety of work.

In addition, we will coordinate the research ethics practices of the project and support the transfer of HF expertise outside the project.

Results and impact

The digital solution is expected to significantly increase the efficiency and safety of infrastructure inspection and maintenance processes:

Rapid issue identification: New technologies detect structural issues, such as corrosion and cracks, through smart sensors and drones.
Accurate assessment of needs for repair: Digital twins (virtual models of real-world infrastructures) help assess needs for repair and propose prioritised timely interventions.
Reduction in hazardous work: The technologies to be developed can significantly reduce hazardous work related to infrastructure inspection and maintenance, such as working on ropes in tall bridge structures.
Automated reporting: Artificial intelligence generates automated and high-quality reports on inspections.
Safer infrastructures: With the help of the solutions to be developed, infrastructure condition can be monitored more closely and failures in structures can be detected at an earlier stage.